“It’s a dream come true for me… I’m happy to be call a Arsenal player”: Arsenal third transfer signing express his excitement after joining the Gunners
Arsenal are eyeing a new midfielder in the summer transfer window and they have already been linked with multiple names.
Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino has verbally agreed personal terms with the club, but the Gunners are yet to make a formal bid.
Tutto Juve now report that Arsenal are one of two Premier League clubs including Liverpool, who have shown ‘significant interest’ in Rabiot.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is aiming to add more experience and stability in midfield, and has sights on signing Rabiot on a free transfer.
Arsenal more likely to land Merino than Rabiot
The Gunners are planning to invest on a new central midfielder after parting ways with Emile Smith Rowe.
Merino has already accepted terms over a long-term contract and he has reportedly chosen the Gunners over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
The club are likely to go ahead with a formal offer for the 28-year-old. They will be hoping to sign him for less than the £26 million price tag.
Rabiot continues to be linked too, but we don’t see the Gunners pursuing two left-footed central midfielders in the same window.
Merino is vastly better defensively and offensively than Rabiot. He won a stunning 10.2 duels per game last term alongside 2.4 tackles and 6.2 recoveries. He made 13 goal contributions for Sociedad.
In contrast, Rabiot won 5.7 duels and 1.9 tackles per league game for Juventus with 4.8 recoveries. The Frenchman had only eight goal involvements for the Bianconeri in all competitions.
Rabiot is available on a free transfer but he could still cost significantly more. The seven-time league winner was already on £145,000 per week at Juventus where his contract expired at the end of June.
He is likely to demand more than £200,000 weekly alongside a huge signing-on bonus. In comparison, Merino earns £52,000 per week at Sociedad and could join the club with a 100 per cent hike.
In our view, a deal for Merino makes sense in the sporting and financial aspect for Arsenal. The speculation on Rabiot could be agent-driven to attract interest from other clubs.
